At a time when China has just passed the "Anti-Secession" Law -- which is an attack on anyone around the world who is concerned about freedom and democracy -- Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) are ignoring the international community and sinking so low as to help the Chinese Communist Party extricate itself from a difficult situation by endorsing the law and leading Taiwan into the Chinese trap.
As the nation is facing an urgent crisis, the Hand-in-Hand Taiwan Alliance is urging Taiwan's 100 pro-localization groups to call for national unity and oppose Beijing and all pro-China forces in Taiwan. The alliance is calling on everyone to protect our homeland and firmly resist Lien and Soong and any other party leader using any kind of excuse to travel to China to collude with the communists to sell out Taiwan.
We solemnly make the following statement:
First, we oppose visits to China by Lien, Soong or any other party leader to engage in any kind of negotiations that, given passage of the Anti-Secession Law, may give the international community the false impression that the people of Taiwan accept that law, and that may help China extract itself from a difficult situation.
Second, Lien and Soong are not qualified to hold any kind of talks with China on Taiwan-related topics. They are just chairmen of opposition parties. They cannot represent the government nor do they have the right to represent the people of Taiwan in talks with the Chinese authorities. Visits by Lien and Soong at this point in time are tantamount to their falling into a Chinese trap aimed at undermining Taiwan's government.
Three, we oppose Lien and Soong having any contacts with China based on the so-called "1992 consensus" and the so-called "one China" principle. Any measure placing Taiwan within the framework of the "one China" principle is equal to relinquishing sovereignty. This is not acceptable to the people of Taiwan.
Fourth, we demand that the government immediately investigate whether the China visit by KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun (
Five, Taiwan is an independent nation and a nation ruled by law, and it has a government capable of implementing its authority. When Lien, a former vice president, visits China, he is challenging the government's authority and the nation's laws. We demand that the government show decisiveness by impartially dealing with Lien's visit lest the nation deteriorate into a state of anarchy and lawlessness.
Finally, the nation's 100 localization groups must stand as one to protect Taiwan's sovereignty by strongly opposing Lien, Soong and any other politician who colludes with the communists to sell out Taiwan without the authorization of the Taiwanese people as a whole.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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